Briefs | Alfalfa’s returns

Locally owned and operated Alfalfa’s Market has received approval from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to re-acquire the Whole Foods Market store at 1651 Broadway in Boulder, as well as the Alfalfa’s Market name and intellectual property.

The transaction is the culmination of a several-year negotiation between Whole Foods Market and the FTC that required Whole Foods Market to divest certain stores and other assets obtained in the 2007 merger with Wild Oats Markets. The purchase price and other details relating to this transaction have not been disclosed.

“We are thrilled to bring Alfalfa’s back to our hometown of Boulder in the exact location where it all started,” said Mark Retzloff, co-founder of Alfalfa’s Market.

Alfalfa’s Market will obtain ownership of the Broadway and Arapahoe store at the end of the July, and the store will close for an extensive remodel. The store is expected to re-open as Alfalfa’s Market by the end of 2010.

Alfalfa’s was originally founded in Boulder in 1983 and was acquired by Wild Oats in 1996.

Signs added in canyons

The Boulder County Transportation Department has installed new “Road Code” signage along the roads of Left Hand Canyon, James Canyon and Lee Hill Drive to improve safety and reduce tensions between cyclists and motorists. The signs encourage cyclists to ride single file through curvy stretches of road, guide cyclists to newly constructed waiting areas where they can congregate away from traffic and advise motorists to pass cyclists with care.

“The need for the Road Code was identified through a collaborative process among residents and bicyclists, resulting in signage that will hopefully make the canyon experience safer and more enjoyable for all users,” Boulder County Transportation Director George Gerstle says.

Sign images and additional information are available at www.BoulderCountyRoadCode.org.

Volunteers sought to aid new moms

Boulder County Public Health is recruiting volunteers to participate in the new Children with Special Needs Program to provide in-home respite care for first-time moms. Volunteers will help with basic infant care, including feeding, diaper changing and soothing the baby, to give the new mom time to relax and rest. The volunteer will also provide companionship for the client.

“Providing a few hours of your time for this program can make a significant difference in a mother and child’s life and future,” says Linda Sobeck, coordinator of the Children with Special Needs Program.

Volunteer applicants must be family-oriented, have experience caring for infants and have their own transportation. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and high school graduates. The program asks for a minimum commitment of three hours each week for a year. For a complete job description, visit www.BoulderCountyHealth.

org/volunteer. The deadline to apply is July 31.

Concert lineup announced

The Lafayette Recreation Department has announced the lineup for the 2010 Summer Concert Series, which will be held every Wednesday in July. The first three events will be held at Waneka Lake Park, at 1600 Caria Dr., and the newly constructed boathouse will be opened during the concerts to offer paddleboat or canoe rentals.

The Steve Thomas Band will kick off the series on July 7, and the finale concert on July 28 will be held in Old Town Lafayette at Festival Plaza.

For more information and a list of performers, call 303-665-0469, or visit www.cityoflafayette.com/UpcomingActivities.

Sizzler run to be held Friday

The Sizzler Fun Run for kids ages 3 to 14 will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 25, at the Peak to Peak Athletic Track, located at 800 Merlin Dr. in Lafayette.

The event is designed to encourage kids to get involved in running and fitness in a positive way, and participants will be divided into age-appropriate groups with corresponding race lengths. The entry fee is $3 for residents and $8 for nonresidents, and ribbons and refreshments are included. Awards will be given to all participants. The required pre-registration can be completed at the Bob Burger Recreation Center, at 111 W. Baseline Rd. in Lafayette. For more information, call 303-665-0469, or visit www.cityoflafayette.com/recreation.

City seeks public input on Xcel

The City of Boulder is hosting open houses to provide information and receive feedback on Boulder’s energy future. The first session was held this week, and the second one will be held on Tuesday, June 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the East Boulder Senior Center, at 5660 Sioux Dr. in Boulder.

The sessions will focus on whether the city should continue to negotiate a renewed 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel Energy to be placed on the November ballot, or explore other options. Another franchise agreement would give Xcel Energy access to the city’s rights of way for the purpose of providing electricity and gas to the city’s residents and businesses.

Representatives from the city, as well as both sides of the franchise issue, will be on hand to discuss the decisions the city and its voters must make. A panel discussion will begin 30 minutes after the start of the open house.

Feedback can also be provided at www.bouldercolorado.gov/energyfuture. The website includes frequently asked questions, informational materials provided to City Council and other resources.

Bluebird Mine complex opens

Boulder County Parks and Open Space and the Board of County Commissioners have announced the grand opening of the restored Bluebird Mine complex.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on July 1 at the complex, which is two miles from the Caribou Ranch trailhead. Visitors should allow one hour to hike to the Bluebird Mine at a leisurely pace, and they will be able to walk around the mine complex, where several buildings were restored, providing a window into Boulder County’s hard rock mining history. After the ribbon-cutting, volunteer naturalists will lead a nature hike back to the main parking lot.

For those unable to hike or horseback ride to the complex, a van shuttle will be available. Contact Sukey Williams at swilliams@bouldercounty. org or 303-678-6222 for further details and reservations.

Coast to coast for the Gulf

As part of the Coast to Coast benefit, Fox Theatre and Boulder Theater will donate 25 cents from each ticket sold for their July 1 shows to benefit those directly affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill. The event is part of a nationwide effort on the part of independent clubs and venues. The funds will disbursed through charity organizations directly aiding fishermen and their families, as well as those associated with wildlife relief efforts.

The show at the Fox Theatre features Euforquestra and Ocote Soul Sounds, and the Boulder Theater show is Zane Lamprey’s “Drinking Made Easy” comedy tour. For more information, visit www.foxtheatre.com and www.bouldertheater.com.

Boulder library director resigns

Boulder Library and Arts Director Tony Tallent has submitted his resignation, effective July 9, to relocate closer to family and to pursue educational and professional opportunities in the Southeast.

Donna Gartenmann, arts and cultural programs manager, has been appointed interim library director. Gartenmann has worked for the Boulder Public Library for 22 years and will serve as interim director while the city conducts a national search for new director.

Rebates on tap for ClimateSmart improvements

Boulder County is offering rebate incentives for up to 70 percent of the cost of commercial property projects funded by the ClimateSmart Loan Program, with a cap of $10,000.

The rebates are funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the $25 million Retrofit Ramp-Up grant awarded recently to Boulder County and its partner organizations.

Approximately $12 million is available until July 12 for commercial property owners in Boulder County — including nonprofit organizations — to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements under the ClimateSmart Loan Program. The voluntary program provides financing for more than 70 different energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.

Financing obtained through the ClimateSmart Loan Program for commercial property projects is repaid by the property owner over a 5- or 10-year period. Payments are made via a special assessment that is included with the annual property tax bill.

For more information about the rebates, visit www. ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org, send an e-mail to climatesmart@bouldercounty.org, or call 303-441-4565.